Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Wins Federal Green Challenge Award

Park Leads Zero Waste Efforts in Hawaii

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Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is one of the most biologically diverse landscapes in the world. Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, more than 2,000 miles from the nearest continental land mass, the park stretches from the summit of Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet to sea level.

The park has achieved Federal Green Challenge accomplishments in both waste and procurement target categories. In 2014, the park recycled 9,362 pounds of aluminum, plastic, glass, and over 50,000 cubic yards of cardboard. The park’s overall recycling rate is 76%. The park’s green purchasing work decreased copy paper purchases by 89%, and ensured that 95% of its cleaning products meet Environmentally Preferable Purchasing criteria.

The park has reduced waste and groundwater use by installing reusable water bottle refilling stations throughout the park, and selling stainless steel refillable water bottles. All of the park’s water is supplied by the largest public rainwater catchment system in the state.

The park has also actively reduced their environmental footprint in all 6 of the 6 Federal Green Challenge target areas: waste, purchasing, electronics, energy, water and transportation.